He made no mention of the deer's quiet bitterness; in the Collector's estimation, Tahi-shei did not have the courage to actually act on his anger. He'd seethe and bridle, but accept it--for now, at least.

In time, with the Crown's influence..? Perhaps not.

He eyed him, for a moment, half-amused. The deer had not picked up on his wicked little hints but was that surprising, really? Could one blame him, given his self-induced trauma (and how delicious; and how wonderful that he was miserable more about himself than the life that he'd just taken!).

Well, he'd be one to watch, anyway. Certainly one to watch.

"Of course, Tahi-shei. Come back any time... Ta ta." He did not vanish; he instead strode away, his gait jaunty, a little humming tone drifting into Canis after him.

The three Pupil magic-level stones discovered by Tahi-shei are a bright and shimmering green Peridot oval; an almost meat-colored, cream-streaked Sardonyx in the shape of a tiny claw; and a glinting Tourmaline not unlike a large, flat tooth, which seems to change colors depending on the light.

@Tahi-shei

Regardless of his anger, his resentment, Tahi-shei wouldn't have been moved to violence against the Collector anyway. He'd been manipulative, had danced around his words, and had avoided telling an outright lie (as far as Tahi-shei knew). The Collector was an asshole, but it was Tahi-shei's fault for not thinking more critically, for not holding him at arm's length, for not... saying no in the first place.

Damn his curiosity.

The haze grabbed him by the throat again, and he felt cold. Like he was a marionette being pulled around on taught, taught strings, he started to make a small and deliberate but defended little structure to put his stones in. For good measure, he dropped a splattering of dander on top of the little bone hut so he'd be able to monitor them. (He'd bring them to James for safe-keeping one day, but... today was not that day.)

Then, he stumbled off, unknowingly in the direction of Tunnel P.

/exit tahi-shei